New wildlife vet hub opens

A NEW wildlife veterinary accommodation and training centre has opened next to the Byron Bay Wildlife Sanctuary at Knockrow.

The facility will provide emergency accommodation for visiting wildlife veterinarians during periods of high demand, including during natural disasters, and host onsite training programs.

This new development is expected to ease the financial pressure on the charitable organisation Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital, especially in light of the high cost of accommodation in the popular tourist destination.

The project received $401,500 in funding from the Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund, under the joint Australian and NSW Governments Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, along with an additional $100,000 contributed by the Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital.

The purpose-built centre features sleeping quarters, amenities and a dedicated meeting space designed for training veterinarians, veterinary nurses, local volunteers and wildlife carers.

Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital Founder and CEO Dr Stephen Van Mil said NSW is facing a chronic shortage of veterinary professionals, particularly in specialised fields like wildlife care.

“This facility incentivises visiting locum vets, nurses and students to come to our region by providing accommodation conveniently located near their place of work and or training at Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital,” he said.

“We’re grateful to the Australian and NSW Governments for supporting this important initiative to protect biodiversity, facilitate skills development and jobs growth.”

The Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital, which recently transitioned to a permanent clinic in Lennox Head, continues to operate Australia’s only mobile wildlife hospital, Matilda. The custom-built semi-trailer is equipped to respond to natural disasters such as bushfires, floods, mass strandings or disease outbreaks affecting native wildlife on a large scale.